Press Releases

Ed Ramsey Murder - $6,000 reward
Nov. 14, 2009

It’s now been eight months since the shooting death of 29 year old Ed Ramsey in Fort Myers. Police say that their investigation is at a near stand-still, and that information from the community is desperately needed to ensure that a killer is stopped from taking any more lives.

“He was a joy to have for a son – he was a hard working young man. They called him the peace maker – he was a peace maker to all of his friends," said his mother, Flora Ramsey.

But ironically, the life of the young man known for his calm ways was taken abruptly, in a rain of bullets fired at his car. Ed Ramsey had just left his mothers house just before midnight on March 20th, and made it less than a block away when he was killed in the front seat of his car.

"That’s what gets me – is I just talked to him… I just talked to him," Ramsey said.

Detectives with the Fort Myers Police Department say in the weeks that have followed the shooting, nobody is talking – and that silence means a killer is still out there.

“They’re very fearful of retaliation against themselves or their families, or not wanting to be known as the neighborhood snitch," said Detective Audenia Thomas of the Fort Myers Police Department.

It seems clear at this point that the murder was definitely not a random act of violence. In fact, both the shooter and the getaway car were in the general vicinity that night, just waiting for Ed to come by.

“I’m fairly sure and confident they intended to kill this particular person," Thomas said.

Ramsey was born and raised in Fort Myers – a well liked young man who wasn’t involved with crime and didn’t have any known enemies. His death has devastated his family, who are trying desperately to figure out why Ramsey was killed in the prime of his life.

“You keep wondering – why, who, what happened? What caused this? It tears me up," Ramsey said.

And although nothing will bring Ed Ramsey back, his family will feel a sense of closure once they have some answers – and the killer is held responsible for his actions. But they need the community’s help to make that happen.

“There’s a lot of murders around here that are not solved, and it takes one person to come forward and help the police department – because they need your help. They can’t do it by themselves," Ramsey said.

Police are offering an additional $5,000 cash reward in this case, on top of the $1,000 reward being offered through Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information in the murder of Ed Ramsey, or any unsolved homicide, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward. Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org.